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Some fans are loving Squid Game's trans character & conservatives are outraged
Season 2 of the hit Netflix series features a trans character who is sparking quite a bit of controversy.
Season 2 of Squid Game is finally here — and even though fans have spent the last three years eagerly awaiting the return of their new favorite show, there is already controversy happening over the inclusion of a trans character.
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In its second season, the South Korean series introduced Hyun-Ju, a new character who happens to be a trans woman competing as a player in the in-universe Squid Game. However, a cisgender male actor called Park Sung-Hoon was cast for the role, which was upsetting to several viewers.
In the new season, Hyun-Ju is a trans woman who used to be a special forces soldier. She is now playing the dangerous Squid Game in the hopes of winning enough money to pay for her gender-reassignment surgery.
On social media, some fans were excited about the inclusion of a trans woman on Squid Game, while others were upset that a cis male actor was cast to play her. Now that the new season has dropped, some fans are pleased with Hyun-Ju's character arc — such as her importance within the game and the friendships she built with other female players in the competition.
But beyond the concerns over the casting of a cis male actor to play a trans female character, conservatives have stormed into X (formerly Twitter) to share posts misgendering the trans character, complaining that the series has gone "woke," and discussing their anger over this trans character being allowed to use the women's restroom.
Although casting a cis man to play a trans woman is seen as a step back in trans representation in mainstream media, there are numerous fans who are having a positive experience watching this character's journey during season 2.
Keep scrolling to see some of the reactions shared on social media about Squid Game season 2 — but beware of major spoilers! The new season of Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix.
Ariel Messman-Rucker is an Oakland-born journalist who now calls the Pacific Northwest her home. When she’s not writing about politics and queer pop culture, she can be found reading, hiking, or talking about horror movies with the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network.
Ariel Messman-Rucker is an Oakland-born journalist who now calls the Pacific Northwest her home. When she’s not writing about politics and queer pop culture, she can be found reading, hiking, or talking about horror movies with the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network.
